The United States has expanded its ban on exports to China of equipment that can make semiconductors up to 14 nanometers (nm) in size and is considering plans to restrict NAND flash memory chip exports and blacklist a major Chinese memory chip maker, as China’s ruling communist party continues its aggressive posturing toward other governments in its region.
Previously, the United States had banned the sale of equipment that can produce chips of 10 nm or smaller to Chinese chip manufacturers as part of its efforts to contain the Chinese regime’s efforts to expand its influence networks through technology and continued economic expansion. Since late July, the ban has been expanded to 14 nm chips, according to major U.S. chip-making equipment suppliers, such as Lam Research Corp., that have been notified by the government about the expanded restrictions.
